FIPA report calls for a new way to understand whether B.C.’s freedom of information system is working.  The Press Release The original press release: Transparency Systems Must Themselves Be Transparent Summary Recommendations The Full report The full report is available for download here: https://fipa.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260615-Drawing-Access-Together-An-Access-Assessments-Report.pdf.  Learn more

FIPA report calls for a new way to understand whether B.C.’s freedom of information system is working.  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Victoria, B.C. 2026.06.18 — The B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) is releasing Drawing Access Together, a report based on over three years of research into the province’s freedom of information (FOI) systems.   The report finds that most public bodies do not maintain documented standards […]

FIPA is sharing a preliminary report of our efforts to study freedom of information (FOI) in BC.  Since late 2022, FIPA has been engaged on a research project that uses documents obtained through FOI requests to piece together how FOI requests are processed. We collected data from every public body subject to both the Freedom of Information Act and Protection […]

The information below links to the requests made, the public bodies who received them, and the release package FIPA received in response. Broader Public Sector 2024 BC Broader Public Sector Requests Core Government 2024 BC Core Government Requests Note: The data for this work is based on research conducted for FIPA’s larger project Access Regimes: Social […]

While there are some positive elements, it is ‘unlikely’ that most public bodies in British Columbia are meeting the public’s high expectations around their information management. This finding originates from a FIPA review of responses to multiple freedom of information requests.  From President Mike Larsen’s perspective, “You can’t really have a transparent, effective, efficient, and secure […]

The Ministry of Forests was listed as an independent public body at the start of 2024 under British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act  and the Information Management Act. They would be considered part of core government within these laws. FIPA submitted focused FOI requests to determine how this public body was […]

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy was listed as an independent public body at the start of 2024 under British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act  and the Information Management Act. They would be considered part of core government within these laws. FIPA submitted focused FOI requests to determine how […]

The Ministry of Health was listed as an independent public body at the start of 2024 under British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act  and the Information Management Act. They would be considered part of core government within these laws. FIPA submitted focused FOI requests to determine how this public body was […]

The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation was listed as an independent public body at the start of 2024 under British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act  and the Information Management Act. They would be considered part of core government within these laws. FIPA submitted focused FOI requests to determine […]

The British Columbia Securities Commission was listed as an independent public body at the start of 2024 under British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act  and the Information Management Act. They would be considered part of the broader public sector within these laws. FIPA submitted focused FOI requests to determine how this […]

The Royal British Columbia Museum was listed as an independent public body at the start of 2024 under British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act  and the Information Management Act. They would be considered part of the broader public sector within these laws. FIPA submitted focused FOI requests to determine how this […]